Case Number 26860: Small Claims Court

Linsanity

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All Rise...

Judge David Johnson is Daverazy.

The Charge

Undrafted. Unwanted. Unwavering.

The Case

If you were semi-conscious a couple of years ago you no doubt heard about
Jeremy Lin and his meteoric rise onto the top of the NBA stage. An undrafted
free agent who couldn't crack a rotation, Lin was brought into a Knicks game one
fateful night and the next couple of weeks were some of the most exciting in
sports.

As a committed Knicks fan who had witnessed this remarkable stretch I can
attest: it was awesome. Each successive game played out like the capper to a
Disney movie. It got to the point where Carmelo Anthony was being asked if he
could fit in with Lin's game, not the other way around. As a bonus, Lin appeared
to be pretty cool kid, humble, affable and decent. It truly wasn't something you
could script any better.

Now here is a crowd-sourced documentary looking at his story and there's
plenty of material to work with. The director gets solid access to Lin, his
family, his friends and his coaches. They trace his rise to pro ball prominence
from the very start, tracking his love of the game as a small child, through a
successful high school campaign, to his years in Harvard and then ultimately the
long and tortured path to the NBA hardwood.

It's really a nicely made documentary and feels true to Lin as a person. An
outspoken Christian, Lin and his faith get plenty of exposure in the film (heck,
the "T" in Linsanity is a cross). What especially resonates is
Lin's honesty in the struggles to make it as a professional; the brutal
mercenary days in the D league. The inspirational moments of his story, from the
time he checked into at fateful Knicks game to his face-off with Kobe Bryant are
deservingly hyped up and rendered with verve. I don't know how the filmmakers
secured the necessary NBA rights, but I'm glad they did; the game footage adds a
lot.

There is a caveat to all of this; the documentary stops before the bizarre
next chapter in his career, when the Knicks and Lin parted ways in confusing
fashion. Houston had offered a "poison pill" contract that was so
back-loaded the Knicks would be in luxury tax hell and the team let him walk,
much to the consternation of the fan base. Subsequently, Lin had a bumpy first
year in Houston, which he later admitted was connected with the pressure to
perform. It's not fairy tale grist, but I think there was more than enough drama
to delve into.

Still, despite Lin never quite turning into a superstar (currently he's an
above-average second unit point guard), his story is a great one and is worth
your time.